FAQ & troubleshoot smart lighting

You can steer your lights without the remote control if you disconnect the steering device from the gateway after you have used it to pair your light sources. However, if you decide later on to add more light sources to your system, you will need a steering device again.

You need to pair the bulb with the steering device since it lost the connection when you factory reset it by adding the steering device to the gateway.

Check the latest compatibility information in the App Store or Google Play.

To be able to add a light source to your gateway you need to have a steering device (remote control, wireless dimmer or motion sensor). Follow the instruction in the app, meaning first add your steering device to your gateway and then pair your light sources with that device.

No, you can control any TRÅDFRI light source with a TRÅDFRI steering device (remote control, wireless dimmer or motion sensor). You need a TRÅDFRI gateway to control TRÅDFRI light sources with the IKEA Home smart app.

You need a steering device to add a light source to the gateway. There is a step-by-step guide on how to do this in the IKEA Home smart app.

1. Check that the gateway’s power is on. If not, check that the power supply cable is correctly attached.
2. Verify that the gateway is connected to your home router via a cable and that the router has internet connectivity.
3. To continue, you need to download the IKEA Home smart app from Apple App Store or Android Play Store and follow the step-by-step guide in the app to set-up your gateway.
4. Follow instructions in the app on how to set-up your gateway and how to connect the steering devices and light sources.
5. Find the QR code on the back of your gateway and scan it with your mobile phone following the instruction in the app. If you have a problem scanning the code, you can type the gateway code manually. You’ll find the gateway code on the back of your gateway. If you still have problems, check that all cables are connected and try again.
6. Secure that your mobile phone is connected to your WiFi network; the same network the gateway is connected to.
7. If you have problems, set-up the gateway by following the steps in the app. You can reset your products by performing a factory reset and installing again.

You can also watch these films for instructions:

How to install TRÅDFRI gateway kit

How to reset your gateway to default setting by factory reset

How to upgrade smart lighting products to use with the IKEA Home smart app

The best way to save your light settings is to save them as moods. Once you have done this, if somebody changes them you can go into the Moods screen, press on your saved mood and all the lights will go back to the way you prefer them. Keep in mind that all the data is saved in your gateway and in your network, so no cloud back-up is available.

You can use TRÅDFRI products with Amazon Alexa if you have a TRÅDFRI gateway (for market and language availability, please refer to Amazon support). Follow the instructions in the integrations menu in the IKEA Home smart app, which means to first enable the Amazon Alexa integration in the IKEA Home smart app and then enable the TRÅDFRI skill in the Amazon Alexa app. If you experience issues, try disabling the integration in both IKEA Home smart app and Amazon Alexa app and then enabling it again, first in IKEA Home smart app and then in Amazon Alexa app.

You can use TRÅDFRI products with Google Assistant if you have a TRÅDFRI gateway (for market and language availability, please refer to Google support). Follow the instructions in the integrations menu in the IKEA Home smart app, which means to first enable the Google Assistant integration in the IKEA Home smart app and then enable the TRÅDFRI service in the Google Home app. If you experience issues, try disabling the integration in both IKEA Home smart app and Google Home app and then enabling it again, first in IKEA Home smart app and then in Google Home app.

Try again. Turn ON all the light sources and make sure that there is a battery in the battery-operated products. It’s possible to retry an update from the Update devices screen inside the IKEA Home smart app at any time. If the gateway loses contact to the router while updating, check to see if your gateway is connected to your router and that the router is connected to the internet.

The factory reset will clean up all data saved in the gateway and make it re-form a new Zigbee network. It will also work on the latest Over the Air (OTA) image it updated to so far and revert to the factory flashed firmware. This can only be triggered by using the pinhole-button. The rest of the system is left intact, which means that you can continue to use the rest of the devices in the system.

Light sources can become out of sync when you interact with the main power switches (wall or lamp switches) with part of your connected light bulbs. For example, when you turn OFF one light bulb in a group with the main power switch and change the rest of the light bulbs in the group to another state, the turned-off light bulb will be out of sync when turning it on again with the power main switch.

How to get the bulbs back in sync

How to sync on/off function

How to sync brightness

How to sync colour temperature

Yes, you can choose from multiple different TRÅDFRI LED bulbs that are sold individually – big socket size (E26, E27), small socket size (E12, E14, E17) and GU10. You can also choose from different pre-packed kits that include the most frequently used bulbs. Visit ikea.com or the IKEA store to see the full offer.

To get your light bulbs back in sync, you need to turn off all connected light sources and then turn them on again.

You can’t change colour with a wireless dimmer. To be able to change colour, you need to pair your light bulb with a remote control.

There are different ways to solve this.

If you have a light source with more than one light bulb that sits close together, you need to pair them one by one. Install your first light bulb, pair it and then remove it. Then install the second light bulb, pair it and remove it, etc. Do this with all of the light bulbs, installing all when you’re ready.

You can also watch a film for instructions:

How to add a light bulb when the lamp has more than one light bulb

You always need to have a steering device to be able to control your light bulb. If you purchased the light bulbs separately, you need to pair them to the steering device one-by-one.

You can also watch a film for instructions:

How to add a light bulb to your remote control

Light sources can become out of sync when you interact with the main power switches (wall or lamp switches) with just part of your connected light bulbs. For example, when you turn OFF one light bulb in a group with the main power switch and change the rest of the light bulbs in the group to another state, the turned-off light bulb will be out of sync when turning it on again with the main power switch.

How to get TRÅDFRI light bulbs back in sync

Yes, you can use the main power switch, steering device or the IKEA Home smart app.

1. Make sure that the lamp connected to the motion sensor main power is on.
2. Make sure that the batteries are inserted in the correct direction, with the IKEA logo (plus sign) facing upwards.
3. If you bought a kit, it’s already paired. If you add additional lights, you need to pair them with the motion sensor: Add a light bulb to the TRÅDFRI motion sensor.
4. Is the dial on “Night” or “Day”? If the dial is on “Night” and it’s light outside, then nothing will happen.
5. Have you installed the motion sensor so that the sensor is directed where the motion will be, in the range of 120 degrees/5m (16.5’)?
6. If you still have a problem, perform a factory reset of your products and try again.

You can also watch these films for instructions:

Add a light bulb to the TRÅDFRI motion sensor

Install TRÅDFRI motion sensor kit

How to reset your motion sensor to default by factory reset

How to reset TRÅDFRI light bulbs to default settings by factory reset

You can reset your IKEA smart lighting products back to the original settings (factory reset).

For light sources:
Toggle the main switch six times.

For remote control, wireless dimmer or motion sensor:
Press the pairing button four times within 5 seconds.

For gateway:
Open and remove the gateway lid. Push a pin into the pinhole on top of the gateway for at least 5 seconds until the LED light stops flashing.

How to reset a TRÅDFRI light bulb

How to reset the TRÅDFRI remote control

How to reset the TRÅDFRI dimmer

How to reset your TRÅDFRI motion sensor

How to reset the TRÅDFRI gateway

To get two steering devices to control the same group of lights, make sure that you have one steering device that is controlling the desired lights and one steering device that is reset to factory settings (factory reset). Then hold the two devices no more than 2cm away from each other and press and hold the pairing buttons on both devices at the same time for 10 seconds. The red pairing light on the steering devices will indicate when the pairing is successful and then it will be possible to control the same lights with both devices.

The first steering device will unpair or become disconnected from the light source. To get two steering devices to control the same light you need to pair the two steering devices with each other. Make sure to perform a factory reset on the steering device that you are adding before attempting to pair it with the existing steering device.

Check that your battery still has power and that it’s inserted correctly in the steering device, with the IKEA logo (plus sign) facing upwards.

The steering device must be paired to your light source. If you purchased a pre-paired kit, your steering device and light bulb are already connected.

How to add a smart light bulb to your remote control

To add light sources, watch these films for instructions:

How to add a smart light bulb to your remote control

How to add a light bulb to your TRÅDFRI dimming kit

How to add a light bulb to your TRÅDFRI motion sensor kit

The battery is low and needs to be replaced.